fearless_leader | 9th Kata [Voice/Action]

9th Kata [Voice/Action]

[Action]

[Just as they had left for the draft, Leo and Robert returned from it together. What they returned to was the town in a mess - there was debris everywhere. Houses and buildings were damaged or destroyed, though some remained intact. Leo was slightly relieved to see House 55 still standing. However that changed a bit once they were inside. Some windows had been broken, allowing debris inside. There was also water damage in some of the rooms - mainly (and maybe fortunately) in the empty rooms. While the occupied bedrooms were left more or less untouched.

They were also greeted by a rather distressed, and hungry, Carbon. Who complained in her version of simple speech.]

Scared. Hungry. Where go? [Her voice very mewly and high pitched.

Before cleanup could start though, Leo was keen to find his brother, worried that Don didn't come to greet them. He'll search the house, but doesn't find him. He'll eventually make a voice post over the journals.]

[Voice]

Has anyone seen Donatello? [He's trying to ignore the dread in his mind. There's many explanations of why Don isn't here. He could be helping out somewhere, or even kidnapped. But after what he said just before they left...]

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[Something cold runs through her when she hears that, because if anyone should have been reunited with Donatello immediately, it's his brother.]

I haven't. If he's not home, I'll help you look right away.

Thank you, Ami. That would be appreciated. We haven't been able to locate him in the house, or right nearby.

Could it be... he was taken by droids?

[Her voice comes out a bit uncertain; she has a feeling Leo already would have considered that and is at least fairly sure it isn't the case.]

For the time being, let's meet to start searching. Where shall we begin?

That, or maybe he's helping clear debris, or help rescue people. But I don't see a note.

[Which worries him, if Don was helping, and knew Leo and Robert were returning, he'd surely leave them a note or something.]

I'm not sure where to start looking. Robert and I are at the house at the moment.

[She'd like to say he might just be out for a short while, which would explain the lack of note if he expected to be back soon... but surely he'd have answered this journal entry, then?]

He hasn't answered you, since you asked for him?

Not yet, which worries me too.

[He had hoped he would see it and respond.]

It's still possible he just doesn't have the journal with him right now. [Don't panic until it's time, Ami.]

[No, don't panic. Stay calm. Leo doesn't need his dream emphasized by somebody else freaking out too.]

Ami, I hope I won't be taking you from other obligations to look. [Considering the mess Luceti is in at the moment.

[There are a lot of rational, reasonable reasons someone could be missing for a short while. Remember them. Focus on that and figure out what did happen. Then find a solution. You can do this, Ami.]

No, it's alright. This is important, too. I want to be sure of where he is.

Beast has helped in a big way. He said he's already checked the stores, library and the battle dome.

[That at least narrows it down a little.]

Where do you want me to go first? [It'll be best if one person organizes things, after all, so they aren't all covering the same ground and they can look efficiently.]

[House 55 is a mess.

As exhausted, sick, injured and generally overwhelmed Robert is, the first thing he does when he steps into the house is to slowly cover his face with his hands and exhale against his palms. It's a calming gesture more than anything, because he needs to focus.

Then he looks up.]

... We need to... take inventory of the damage.

[The question, of course, is where they're even going to start...]

... After we find everyone.

["Everyone" meaning "Don and Carbon".]

[Leo puts a hand on Robert's shoulder, after taking a few calming breathes himself.]

At least it's still standing.

[That counts for something. They could have no house to return to at all. He nods to Robert. Right, first priority is to find the rest of their little family.]

Don!

[He'll move further into the house as he calls the name, hoping for an answer. He gets one, but it's not quite the he's hoping for. Racing out of one of the rooms comes Carbon, bounding over any debris that she can't just run over. The cat makes a beeline for them and boy is she full of complaint in her high pitched speech.]

Wet, wet, wet, wet. [She's happy to see them, really.]

[Carbon! Though it's not Don - and that makes Robert's insides tight with anxiety and fear - he nevertheless scoops up the dirty, wet cat into his arms, huddling her shivering body close.]

Hungreeeeeow...

[He smiles sadly and placates her by stroking her head, sending her into muted, wordless purring.]

... She has not been fed...

[Don wouldn't forget to do that, would he? Maybe he's been stuck somewhere.

... Anything, other than the obvious possibility.]

[Leo is relieved to see the cat survived at least. He'll reach to rub at her ears for a moment.]

Go ahead and feed her. [Assuming the cat food hasn't been ruined.]

I'll start looking in the rooms. [Especially their bedroom, for obvious reasons.]

Tell me if you find anything... [Robert, of course, is off to feed Carbon - she cries once when he picks her up to carry her to where her dish is, but falls silent at his continued reassuring stroking.

Even as he goes, though, his mind is in turmoil. What happened here? He knew the village was going to be attacked, but how badly was it attacked? And this is flooding damage, isn't it? He remembers seeing similar-looking damage in pre-Terran environmental reports.]

... Where could he b-be...?

[Almost absently, he cleans out Carbon's dishes - they've been sitting full of stagnant water, and at least the plumbing still functions - before refilling them with slightly-soggy cat food and comfortingly rubbing behind Carbon's ears.]

Of course.

[The first place he checks is their shared room. He's relieved, at least, to see Don's stuff still there.]

Don? You in here? [He'll search the rest of the rooms, but there's no trace of his brainy brother.]

[Hearing Leo's futile cries throughout the house doesn't ease Robert's worries one bit. As soon as Carbon's situated, he gets up and casts about the room, looking for their emergency equipment in the debris.

Some searching turns up a high-octane flashlight, probably used on a camping trip. Luckily, it turns on after some coaxing, and he sweeps the darker corners of the house with it, intent on searching for any evidence that Don might've been here.]

Don...? Don, please, if y-you are here...

[... Nothing.]

[Oh dear.]

"I would be willing to offer my assistance in the search."

Thank you Obi-wan. I'm not sure where to start, he didn't even leave a note.

"Oh dear... I shall be certain to keep on the lookout for him, in any case. I shall be aiding in the efforts to clean and repair the village, but if I see- or sense- your brother, I'll let you know."

Thanks. [He really is grateful for the help offered.]

We're cleaning up here too, but if I can help any, let me know. [They're willing to help him after all.]

"I shall let you know."

[He pauses a moment, then adds,]

"I'm certain he'll be alright."

Yeah, I'm sure too. [There's plenty of other reasons that he's missing.]

[He can't remember when he last opened his journal... but it's a good thing he did this morning. ... Oh no. If... if Leo doesn't know where Don is, then...

Immediately, he picks up his journal and takes it with him as he starts bounding around the village going to any place he can imagine Don being: The library, the item shop, the grocery store, that dome thing... anywhere he can think of, he's going, calling out his name and probably not being too subtle about it. Finally, he stops and looks down at his journal, panting slightly from all the running and sounding defeated.]

I... I d-didn't find him.

[He can tell Beast has been busy. He's grateful for it, even if it does still kind of surprise him, how many people have offered to help.]

Where have you looked?

[That would help narrow it down.]

I tried... th-the stores... the library... the cabin... [He checks the map to find the name.] Th-the... battle dome...?

[He's quiet, noting this down for reference.]

Thank you. This helps a lot. [Even if he didn't find him, it at least gives them less places that they have to look.]

You're... y-you're welcome.

[A few moments' hesitation... this is Don. Just looking around for him isn't enough. The man... turtle... has been very good to him, giving him reading lessons every week, he... he needs to do more for him back.

... And then he remembers where Leo lives.]

Is... h-how is... Hastings? [They both went to the draft together; they surely came back together, too... he hopes...?]

[Donatello... Amidst the losses of the decoys -among them Lupin-, he suddenly feels like a squadmate.

The fact not even they know worries her.]

Negative... Not in the middle of this all.

[Leo's aware of other issues around the town, some more than others. Which is part of why he's surprised at the responses.]

Thank you. If you see him, could you let him know we're looking for him?

Yes, sir... Robert needs to know as well.

I'll keep my eye on him. Any word on where he was?

None, and Robert and I were out on the draft.

[People having not seen Don is not helping his worry at all. Damn it Malnosso, you got the worst timing ever.]

[Damn it.]

I was around the Battle Dome when the fighting started. I'll be seeking around the northern areas...

...

But I hope he is alright.

[Alien or not, it's a squadmate. Something that takes priority even over her prejudices.]

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9th Kata [Voice/Action]

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[Action though it's fairly self-evident]

[Action] This is before Ami's tag of course. XD

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[Voice] OH HEY BRO WHAT'S UP.

[Voice] OH YOU KNOW, NOT MUCH

[Voice] WATCHIN' A GAME, SIPPIN' A BUD

[Voice] OH, A GOOD GAME I HOPE?

It's a budweiser commercial. YOU FAIL.

[Voice] BAH, I hate beer anyway.

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